Mortgage Foreclosure Counselor

Full-Time: $52,000-56,000

Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO) is a nonprofit organization located in White Plains, New York whose mission is to promote fair, affordable and accessible housing for all individuals in the lower Hudson Valley region. WRO employs a variety of tools to advance this objective including arming families with the knowledge on how to obtain their first home and how to avoid foreclosure.

The Mortgage Foreclosure Counselor will work under the supervision of the Co-Directors of the Homeownership Department. He/she will assist with the development and implementation of the organization’s foreclosure prevention counseling program; and counsel homeowners who may face foreclosure because of rising interest rates, loss of employment, or other threats to their ability to pay their mortgage. The Foreclosure Counselor also markets the foreclosure prevention counseling program in the broader community; and monitors to ensure the accomplishment of program goals, objectives, and outcomes.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

• Provide professional housing counseling to prospective and existing individuals and families in accordance with the HUD/National Industry Standards guidelines. Create, maintain, and update client files on a regular basis. Prepare action plans, budgets and follow-up with clients in a timely manner.

• Market the foreclosure prevention counseling program in the community to increase knowledge of the program and its resources among distressed or potentially distressed homeowners.

• Be knowledgeable of the options and resources available to distressed homeowners and communicate the potential for success or failure in light of the facts of each case.

• When appropriate as a viable response to the homeowner’s circumstances, provide one-on-one counseling to distressed homeowners in budgeting and credit repair.

• Work with lenders, law firms and borrowers or with real estate agents to negotiate a work-out plan, re-finance, sale, etc.

• Assist in the development and maintenance of tracking systems to ensure the accurate documentation of counseling activities and to ensure the timely compilation and submittal of reports to the Co-Directors of the Homeownership department and to funding and financing agencies.

• Represent the organization before public bodies, financing institutions, real estate industry professionals, community groups, etc.

• Perform other administrative duties as determined by the Co-Directors.

• Attend marketing and outreach events via in-person or virtual, some evenings or weekend hours may be required.

• Assist with other agency related projects as needed.

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent experience; at least one-year experience in mortgage lending and/or foreclosure prevention counseling strategies and programs; experience in program development; knowledge of lending laws and regulations; strong communication skills; bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

HUD Counselor Certification preferred or must be able to pass the exam within six months after hire.

How to Apply:
Email resume and cover letter as a Word or PDF attachment, referencing Mortgage Foreclosure Counselor in the subject line to:

Human Resources Director
Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc.
470 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 410
White Plains, NY 10605
Email: payroll@wroinc.org

WRO is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Pre-Purchase Homeownership Counselor

Full-Time: $52,000-56,000

Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO) is a nonprofit organization located in White Plains, New York whose mission is to promote fair, affordable and accessible housing for all individuals in the lower Hudson Valley region. WRO employs a variety of tools to advance this objective including arming families with the knowledge on how to obtain their first home.

Knowledge and Qualifications:
2+ years of relevant work experience in mortgage lending, homeownership counseling, residential real estate, financial counseling or similarly relevant industry. Must possess the ability to demonstrate care for the community; HUD Counselor Certification preferred or must be able to pass the exam within six months after hire. Strong computer, written and verbal skills necessary to maintain documentation and ability to interact effectively with clients, housing professionals, attorneys, real estate agents, community agencies, and local, county and state government representatives. Ability to maintain a caseload of clients including prompt and accurate maintenance of client’s physical files documentation with attention to detail and confidentiality; Willing to travel local and outside the state for training and meetings. Work off-site or off-hours on occasion as needed. Perform other job related duties and responsibilities as assigned to help support the program. The Homeownership Counselor will report to the Co-Directors of the Homeownership Department. Bi-lingual English/Spanish, a plus.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Homeownership Counselor will work closely with clients, prospective lenders, and program partners to advance client’s ability to purchase a home.

• Intake and assess clients’ overall financial situation as it relates to homeownership.

• Counsel clients in regards to budgeting, debt reduction, credit building and homeownership education.

• Assist the clients with creating a budget and a detailed action plan to overcome their financial situation.

• Manage and ensure clients’ file is completed from intake to resolution per organization and HUD guidelines.

• Facilitate and coordinate homeownership education workshops, including scheduling, marketing, and procuring speakers.

• Enter, track and maintain client and department information using MS Office, CMS database and filing system

• Assist clients’ applications with mortgage and/or other loan/grant programs with the necessary supporting documents for the lender/funder to assess clients’ readiness for a loan/grant.

• Ensure all clients’ data are entered, tracked, reported and monitored in regards to client’s progress through our management system and Excel spreadsheets as needed by funders and/or direct supervisor.

• Maintain proper program files, records and completion of reports to funders and supervisor in a timely manner.

• Build relationships with lenders, realtors, and other professionals to develop referral sources.

• Attend marketing and outreach events via in-person or virtual.

• Perform other administrative matters as determined by the Co-Directors.

• Some evening or weekend hours may be required on a limited basis

Distinguishing Characteristics:
Highly motivated self-starter with strong project management skills. Works well with people in both individual and group settings. Possess effective analytical problem-solving skills. Ability to work independently and as a team member. Ability to be flexible, adaptive and positive in a fast paced, constantly changing environment. Community based non-profit experience and bilingual English and Spanish highly desirable. Ability to prioritize and excellent time management skills are an essential function in this role.

How to Apply:
Please email a resume, and cover letter as a Word or PDF attachment, referencing Pre-Purchase Homeownership Counselor to:

Human Resources Director
Westchester Residential Opportunities
470 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 410
White Plains, NY 10605
Email: payroll@wroinc.org

WRO is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Per Diem Fair Housing Tester Positions

Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc. (WRO), a non-profit housing counseling agency which has been protecting Westchester County residents for over 50 years by advocating with the community for fair, affordable and safe housing for all, is seeking individuals to serve as Fair Housing Testers in our Fair Housing program. If selected, these individuals would be expected to work on an “as needed” basis. Testers will be paid a per diem stipend.

Qualifications:

• Good verbal and written skills

• Ability to write a report

• Reliability and follow through on assignments

• Able to maintain confidentiality

• Able to follow instructions

• Responsibly maintain communication

• Honesty and objectivity

• Own a cell phone

• Must attend paid training session

Training sessions take place at the WRO offices located at 470 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 410, White Plains, New York 10605.

If you are interested or would like more information on these positions, please send an email to dpepaj@wroinc.org or call (914) 428-4507 x324.

Housing Marketing Coordinator

Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO) is a nonprofit organization located in White Plains, New York whose mission is to promote fair, affordable and accessible housing for all individuals in the lower Hudson Valley region.

The Housing Marketing Coordinator will coordinate and conduct our affirmative marketing plans for affordable housing units being developed in the region. The Housing Marketing Coordinator will report directly to the Deputy Executive Director and indirectly to the Executive Director.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Preparing and implementing affirmative marketing plans for the marketing of affordable housing units

• Serving as liaison with affordable housing developers on affirmative marketing

• Managing the design, preparation, presentation and distribution of outreach materials and applications, including by email, website and social media as well as traditional media placement/publication

• Collecting applications and conducting lotteries for affordable housing

• Income-qualifying applicants for affordable housing

• Managing and tracking information using basic office technology, including Microsoft Office, GoogleSuite applications, and proprietary databases

• Monitoring, tracking and evaluating the effectiveness of various marketing, communications and outreach activities

• Tracking and compiling statistical and demographic information

• Assisting in recordkeeping and reporting

• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree; focus on communications, marketing, public relations, urban planning or other related field preferred

• Strong management and organizational skills

• A strong commitment to the principles of civil rights and equal opportunity for all

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills

• Ability to interact respectfully with people from diverse cultural, racial and socio-economic backgrounds

• Proficient in basic office technology, including Microsoft Office and GoogleSuite

• Basic graphic design skills, including working with Canva, Constant Contact, PhotoShop, Adobe Creative or other graphic design and image manipulation applications

• Spanish language skills strongly preferred

• Mandarin language skills a plus

• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines

• Excellent team communicator/team player

Anticipated Salary Range: $50,000 to $52,000 depending on experience.

How to Apply:

Please email a resume and a letter explaining your interest in the position, referencing Housing Marketing Coordinator in the subject line to:

Human Resources Director
Westchester Residential Opportunities
470 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 410
White Plains, NY 10605
Email: payroll@wroinc.org

WRO is an Equal Opportunity Employer